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21
Apr
Grammar guerrilla takes Harrogate road sign matters into own hands
A vigilante has taken action against the council’s decision to eliminate apostrophes from Harrogate district road signs.
The move comes after North Yorkshire Council last week told the Stray Ferret it will abolish apostrophes from road signs after a new sign was installed on St Mary’s Walk.
The new sign, which read ‘St Marys Walk’, sparked concern among local grammar guerrillas - and it seems someone has now taken matters into their own hands.
Shortly after it was installed, someone, armed with a piece of black tape, drew an apostrophe on the new sign, which now reads 'St Mary’s Walk' (pictured).
(L) the new sign before being corrected. Another sign nearby (R).
The council said the new format was being adopted by other councils across the country, but it proved less than popular with local residents.
One man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Stray Ferret last week:
Another upset resident commented on the Stray Ferret's Facebook post:
A similar initiative happened in 2014 - which saw a similar fate.
The Guardian reported at the time that Cambridge City Council’s decision to abolish apostrophes led to a backlash from “self-declared defenders of grammar” who used marker pens to fill in missing apostrophes on road signs.
Read more:
- Council eliminates apostrophes from Harrogate district road signs
- Drivers face delays as four-week Pannal gasworks start
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